Table 4.

Selected quotes related to parents’ perceptions of impactful components of the C.H.A.M.P. Families program.

Group Environment

i. Sense of Community/Belonging “It’s nice just meeting other families and knowing that we’re not the only family that’s having a child that is overweight…. Your circles of friends have children that maybe don’t have obesity or overweightness, and it’s hard to talk to them or you wouldn’t talk to them because you can’t relate. It’s nice to know that there are other people with the same kind of issues, that have struggles that are real like yours.” (Participant 1, female) “For me just listening to all the other parents and their struggles … that we’re not the only ones, that’s what I think was important for me.” (Participant 6, male) “The strength of the program is the community feeling that you generate…There were a lot of emotions that parents had…and in there [C.H.A.M.P. Families] they are kinda laid out. I think that actually brings the group closer.” (Participant 3, male) “We are not alone. Sometimes in the thick of it you think my god I’m like the only parent who has this problem? What are we doing wrong and why? How come everyone else has it figured out and I can’t get this figured out?” (Participant 4, female)

ii. Group Interaction and Support “I love the fact that it’s a support program for the families. I work in healthcare and I haven’t seen a program like this … It’s good to see that there is something going on that helps parents get together and learn from others … like this is an idea I can implement, this is something that we can do, this is something that we are missing in the community…. so, it has been really rewarding.” (Participant 11, female) “I like the program because it was a very positive environment and it was nice to know other parents’ concerns and how they approach situations, or just to know there are common issues that I didn’t know how to solve…. just to share the feelings and what worked and what doesn’t.” (Participant 3, male) “Listening to other parents I was like, OK, I can take from that feedback and apply it to myself to change how I deliver my message tonight on how he [my son] needs to care for himself, maybe allow him to do that.” (Participant 9, female)

Content and Materials

i. Inspiring and Motivational Expert Speakers “I really enjoyed the mental health speaker … I could relate better…with my kids, so I thought that was really useful.” (Participant 5, female) “As the person who does the majority of the grocery shopping, I would say that the grocery tour too has a big tangible impact … our dietitian that was with us was able to point out things … it has just changed the way that I shop, which changes the way that you prepare food and you kinda stay away from certain things and it has [an] impact on a whole household.” (Participant 1, female) “The biggest thing that I learned was when he [expert chef] said to have your children take control of the plate and their meal … that never dawned on me before. Having them [my children] serve themselves and put whatever on their plate, and putting some guidelines on there, but not saying you have to eat it all … that was profound to me.” (Participant 1, female)

ii. Relevant and Applicable Information and Resources “I’m gonna use that book [C.H.A.M.P. Families binder containing program resources and goal setting worksheets], keep referring to it. I’m going to fill in the parts that I didn’t do and use it as a guide. If I find something good, I’ll add to it. Gonna be kind of the reference.” (Participant 3, male) “We got a lot of good information as to how to go about doing it, I think the key is to apply it to your individual circumstances.” (Participant 3, male) “I would say the sugary drinks like, we had that little paper that we got that night on the fridge for a long time, and now we all know … that was a big eye-opener.” (Participant 1, female)

iii. Reminders and Reinforcements “There was a constant reminder. You want to slack off [then] you remember the program. You think back to it and say, ‘We are doing well, let’s get back to where we were.’ It was nice that it was a few times a month so even if you did forget, you could come in [on] the Monday, get the reminder again, go back home, refresh the information.” (Participant 12, female) “I think that [it] helped… because it takes so many tries. You need to keep coming back, keep being reminded that in the end things could change.” (Participant 4, female) “I think that for me coming here…. reinforced the fact that I am on the right track.” (Participant 9, female)

Additional Program Benefits

i. Complimentary Programming for Children “My favourite part was [for] my daughter. She had a blast. She absolutely loved it. And five times in the last week, she said: ‘I wished this wasn’t the last week of the C.H.A.M.P. Families. I wished we could go back again.’ She’s enjoying it so much. She loves the kids and she’s just had new experiences that we haven’t had before.” (Participant 7, female) “We are members of the Y, but we never come and that’s the thing, this brought me back….I used to go up to the gym and my kids. I would drop them off Monday and Thursday...and they used to love it…but with life, you just stop, but with a program like this you feel like you have to come in, you’re obligated, you signed up, you come in and it’s the same set of kids.” (Participant 12, female) “That connection with the kids that are similar to him, that’s what he [my son] really liked about it…. He is able to physically relate to this boy, he made friends with him. He hated the weeks we had no class. When I picked him up, he was like, ‘Mom, I was so happy all day and so excited looking forward to the program tonight.” (Participant 11, female)

ii. At-Home Data Collection Visits, Tools, and Personnel “The Actical thing [accelerometer] for [my son] was a very great competitive item. He knew that when he had it on he was focused and had to do whatever… and I know that it impacted the way that he looked at some of the things that he was doing on a regular basis.” (Participant 9, female) “He [my son] liked the small chats with [the Project Coordinator].” (Participant 11, female) “I found when [Project Coordinator] comes for the data collection, you don’t feel judged when you step yourself on the scale and your kids get on. There is no judgement and I think that is genuine.” (Participant 1, female) “I will say she [Project Coordinator] is special…. she just has this great way about her and the data collection. I’m filling out the survey and I’m doing my own thing, she’s chatting with [my son], and then she’s asking me the questions and they are having a little chit chat.” (Participant 9, female)